🦋Book Tour with Guest Post & Giveaway 🦋 Moonset on Desert Sands (Murder, Tea & Crystals - A Trilogy) Cozy Fantasy Fiction by author Sherri Dodd

 WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR

of

Moonset on Desert Sands

By Sherri Dodd

Tour Begins August 24

Book Summary

With a traumatic year of fending off a serial killer behind her, Arista has settled contentedly into her temporary home with Auntie in Sedona, Arizona. She enjoys her new job selling all things metaphysical and even has her eye on the hot security guard, Dakota, after her recent breakup with Shane.

But a series of new fainting spells has her worried, and when Auntie witnesses one, they decide the answer lies in her home of Boulder Creek. However, returning means not only dealing with her breakup and its heartache but also the possibility of drawing her bloodthirsty Uncle Fergus to her once safe haven in the redwoods. And this time he has recruited an even more dangerous alliance.

Arista's closest bonds will be strengthened, but the mounting tension of a death in the desert, a stalker on the streets, and the relentless pursuit of Fergus puts her in dangerous territory, and escaping sorrow proves impossible.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing(March 27, 2025)

AISN:  B0DF33L1YW

ISBN: 168513579X

ISBN-13: 978-1685135799

Print length:  331 pages

Purchase a copy of Moonset on Desert Sands

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/168513579X

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moonset-on-desert-sands-sherri-l-dodd/1150172801

Bookshop.org: https://tinyurl.com/3wyvb2p7

You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list 

https://goodreads.com/book/show/221330223

Guest Post:

How to Deal with Toxic Family Members

I remember the final straw. I had just left the gym and was talking with my mother over the phone as I merged onto the highway. Five minutes in, she interrupted the conversation, “Sorry, but I’ve got to get ready for the baby shower. I wish you were going.” There was only one baby coming due – my sister’s. After a few seconds of surprised silence, I replied, “You know I wasn’t invited to that, right?” My mother whined in disbelief, but it did not shock me by any means. Our sisterly relationship had long been dying, and that proverbial nail sealed the coffin.

Family members can clash. Like alkali metals in a lab, mixing them can create figurative flammability. It may not be one person’s fault over the other; just a noxiousness when merging the two. Sometimes, it is just chemistry; other times you may be dealing with a toxic family member.

So, what comprises a toxic person? According to Calm – yes, that popular little blue app with ambient effects – there are seven symptoms to watch for in familial toxicity.

1)        Manipulation through guilt-tripping / playing the victim. Do they badger you with how much you disappoint them by being too busy to “make an appearance” (nevermind your 60-hour work week and sheer exhaustion), or do they lament to you about an absent family member and how much they do for that person, yet get nothing in return? Just know, if they are griping to you about someone, eventually, they will covertly talk about you as well.

2)        Perpetually negative. This means situations they land in, the rude people they meet, the hard times that fall upon them. This person is like sitting beside a five-day-old, used catbox, and you feel the suffocation from lack of fresh air.

3)        Belittling and insulting. After crying about all their woes, they will suddenly turn to you and make some snarky remark about what you are wearing, your poor driving, or your bad breath.

4)        Petrol-lighting. They give you half-truths about shared memories, making you question your previous perception and swearing their recollection is better than yours.

5)        What Boundary? They disregard others’ personal space and time. The same person I mentioned above had a conniption when her event consultant rescheduled a meeting due to, paraphrasing here, ‘her kid may have autism or something, and she has to get him tested.’ I hope after having her own child, she feels differently now.

6)        Emperor or Empress of Drama. Blowing small slights out of proportion to the point of ruining a public dinner with their loud voice or turning a fun family event into a rant session.

7)        Absence of Empathy. Sure, they mirror your mopey voice and cock their head in sympathy at your story, but inside they really just want to get on to the next subject – them.

What is one to do? You’ve gotta love ‘em, right? Literally, many have heard the words, “You have to love [him/her], because they’re your [mother/father/sister/brother].” Truth is, while loving someone, you do not have to subject yourself to them. Dr. Sherrie Campbell, author of But It’s Your Family, offers great insight into this misconception. “Enabling is not loving. Cutting ties is not cruelty.” Dr. Campbell also writes that sometimes the best action we can take is to leave the perpetrator in the company of themselves. Perhaps the consequence of our absence will lead to improvement. However, before that possibility, the manipulations may escalate, not only toward you but in their talk about you to other family members.

Bottom line is we must choose our battles wisely, for the avenues through which stress hounds us are plentiful. If a family member becomes a stressor for you, do not feel guilty for taking time to protect yourself from their damaging ways. In the long run, the distance may help you gain better perspective on the relationship, enabling you to endure an hour or two for the sake of keeping up appearances, without the lingering effects that used to beleaguer you. Or it will expose the problem even more so, and you will be mentally healthier for making the break.

About the Author, Sherri Dodd

Sherri grew up in southeastern Texas walking barefoot and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore, inspiring her first short story about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto curious children. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. Not long after, her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has explored the vast area ever since, using it as a catalyst to her writing, from journaling to fitness articles to fiction. She holds a bachelor’s degree, and is pursuing her master’s, in holistic theology and believes this helps her to see the world through a more colorful and accepting lens. 

In writing, her publisher labeled her 2024 debut novel as a paranormal thriller. She would have described it as a cozy murder mystery with generous dashes of magic realism, showing that she loves to merge genres. Her trilogy — Murder, Tea & Crystals — released book one - Murder Under Redwood Moon in March 2024; book two - Moonset on Desert Sands in March 2025; and the final book in the series- Hummingbird Moonrise released October 2025! All three books became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in the Occult Supernatural genre.

You can follow the author at:

Website: www.sherridodd.com

Instagram: @Sherri.Dodd.Author

#psychicthriller #CozyFantasy #booktour #Giveaway #KindleUnlimited #SherriDodd #guestpost #WOW 

Blog Tour Calendar

August 24th @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate the launch of the second book in Sherri Dodd's Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy: Moonset on Desert Sands. Read an interview with the author and enter the giveaway.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

August 25th @ Cozy Home Delights 

Ashley reviews Moonset on Desert Sands & author Sherri Dodd writes about wild animals. Cozy Home Delights is also hosting a book giveaway.

https://cozyhomedelight.com/reviews 

August 27th @ Knotty Needle

Judy's posting her review of Moonset on Desert Sands by Sherri Dodd.

http://www.knottyneedle.blogspot.com

August 28th @ Kaecey McCormick

Writing deadlines have you stressed out? Relax with Yoga for Writers by Sherri Dodd, author of the Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy.

https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/

August 31st @ All Things Writing

Author Sherri Dodd stops by with a post on why Stephen King was Right(or How Writers Become Mentally Involved in their Stories).

https://www.caitrincking.com/blog

September 1st @ Words by Webb

Ready for a new season? Check out a paranormal mystery perfect for fall: Moonset on Desert Sands.

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

September 2nd @ Archeolibrarian

Dive into magic realism with an excerpt of Moonset on Desert Sands by Sherri Dodd.

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website

September 3rd @ Knotty Needle

Learn about Fitness and the Aging Body from Sherri Dodd.

http://www.knottyneedle.blogspot.com

September 8th @ A Wonderful World Of Words

Don't miss your final chance at a Moonset on Desert Sands giveaway. Author Sherri Dodd will also be writing about Dealing with Toxic Family Members.

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

September 9th @ Chapter Break 

Author Sherri Dodd explains how Writing a Standalone Novel is Entirely Different from Writing a Trilogy (plus a sneak peek at her WIP).

https://chapterbreak.net/

September 11th @ Word Magic

Author Sherri Dodd shares a peek at her writing life and new novel in today's interview.

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

September 15th @ Words by Webb

Jodi shares why we should all be trying new genres - like magick realism.

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

September 18th @ Boys' Mom Reads!

Today's spotlight is on Moonset on Desert Sands, the second book in the Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy.

https://karensiddall.wordpress.com

September 20th @ Jill Sheet's Blog

Let's finish the Moonset on Desert Sands blog tour with a final interview with author Sherri Dodd.

https://jillsheets.blogspot.com/